December 26th is National Candy Cane Day—a sure reason to celebrate! This holiday sweet treat is fun to eat and can provide a relaxed way to add some science to your holiday schooling (bonus science!).
Some Fun Facts About the Candy Cane
- The original candy cane was just plain white! It was used for medicinal purposes, such as soothing an upset stomach.
- The first red and white candy cane was introduced in 1900.
- The candy cane is fat-free!
- The average candy cane is five inches long, but the world record for the longest is fifty-one feet, made by a chef in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The candy cane is the number one non-chocolate candy seller in December.
- Over 1.7 billion candy canes are produced in the US.
Simple Candy Cane Experiments
Pull up a stool to your counter and get ready to do some candy cane experiments to start the holiday off right. Use the attached printable to guide you in the scientific method. You’ll need some mini-candy canes for each experiment below. Fill out the printable lab pages as you go and add the completed work to your science notebook.
Candy Cane Density: Does your candy cane float or sink?
You’ll need:
- Glass containers or jars for each liquid
To see Karri’s full post and print your free lab sheet, click to visit her full post! And watch for The Mystery of Science: Physics coming soon to Bright Ideas Press!